Columbus
InsideHook
This Year’s Most Expensive Bourbons Share One Common Trait
Pappy isn’t getting any cheaper. According to new research by the price comparison site Wine-Searcher, five of the top six most expensive bourbons on their site are currently Van Winkle bottles, with Old Rip Van Winkle 25 Year coming in at an average price of $52,252 per bottle. Now,...
The Best Colognes by Grooming Brands
Colognes and skincare are generally viewed as separate worlds in men’s grooming. Having worked in the style and grooming market for most of my career, I have often met the launch of a skincare brand’s new signature cologne with a sigh. This reaction isn’t out of pretense; historically, brands that excel in shampoos or shave creams rarely produce high-caliber colognes. A shared skepticism exists when skincare lines attempt to master the personal fragrance craft. These two hallmarks of men’s grooming typically stay in their respective lanes and focus on what they do best. When a grooming brand launches a cologne, it’s often considered a gym bag spritzer. Conversely, when fragrance brands release skincare products, they receive fanfare, but the aromas still take center stage.
Consider the Oyster: The New Lifeblood of Coastal Maine
It starts with the slow crawl out of the house, the dull hum of the car AC and the asphalt infinity of I-95. From New York to Massachusetts, you barrel over cracks in the concrete and watch as dots on the horizon become gas stations and Dunkin’ Donuts. When you make a pit stop, you should drink a frozen lemonade, then a coffee and then another, then get back on the road and plan not to stop again. Civilization is billboards, arenas and towns. What’s beyond is just wilderness and sea — you’ll know it when you pass through Portsmouth and finally watch the sun rise over midcoast Maine.
What We Learned From Harvard’s New Study on Healthy Aging
Last month, two opinion articles in The New York Times, published on consecutive days, argued that nutrition and overall health are very straightforward, based on “boring” principles we’ve known since “third grade,” like eating your vegetables. Wellness entrepreneurs who say otherwise are probably just trying to sell you their fake advice and products, according to one of the op-eds.
The 10 Books You Should Be Reading This August
August can be a bittersweet month, the point at which summer begins to wind down even as the weather turns ever more dank. With that in mind, our August book recommendations cover a lot of potential reactions to the month at hand. Looking for a gripping thriller to page through at the beach? We can help you there. In search of the perfect read for a new European soccer season? There’s something for that as well. Throw in memoir, cultural history and a retrospective of a beloved television show, and you have a reading list that should keep you busy this month.
Unlike Trump and Biden, Kamala Harris Is No Teetotaler
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump do not drink. In a country where more than two-thirds of adults consume alcohol, that’s a surprising fact — not that there’s anything wrong with abstaining (and both Trump and Biden have their reasons). However, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee...
The Best Movies, TV and Music for August
Welcome to Culture Hound, InsideHook’s deep dive into the month’s most important cultural happenings, pop and otherwise (note: you can find our monthly book guide a little later this week). MOVIES. Trap. in theaters Aug. 2. M. Night Shyamalan’s latest thriller is centered around a serial killer (Josh...
Lost Lantern Is Declaring This the Summer of Bourbon (Again)
What we’re drinking: Lost Lantern’s Summer of Bourbon II collection. Where it’s from: Co-founded by Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, this independent bottler from Vermont offers unique, limited-edition releases from American craft distilleries, all under one label. The expressions are cask strength, non-chill-filtered and with no color added. This marks the second Summer of Bourbon collection.
Zodiac’s Super Sea Wolf Compression “Sea Turtle” Is the Colorful Dive Watch You’ve Been Longing For
What makes a summer watch a summer watch? Is this some arbitrary distinction devised by a jaded watch writer with too much time on his hands? (Possibly.) But to said writer’s mind, if there is a distinction to be made between a timepiece ideal for hot-weather wear and one best suited for, well, the rest of the year, it’s that a summer watch shouldn’t take itself too seriously. And this could mean different things to different people: Maybe it’s made out of plastic; or it’s got a cartoon character on it; or it comes on a Velcro strap; or it’s simply colorful as heck.
The Best New Whiskeys to Drink This August
Welcome back to our monthly guide to all things whisk(e)y. Please check out our more in-depth looks at new releases here. A twice-barreled Straight Tennessee Rye Whiskey, this limited release from Jack Daniel’s is only available at select locations in Tennessee. After being charcoal mellowed, the liquid is first matured in charred, white American oak barrels then finished in a second round of new, charred American white oak barrels for another two and a half years. Bottled at 107 proof and only available in 375ml bottles, there’s a molasses sweetness and a sandalwood note nicely balancing the rye spice with lingering notes of lemon zest and caramel.
Cocktails to Make the Most of Tomato Season
For years, the tomato’s invitation to the cocktail party was limited to appearances in Bloody Marys and Micheladas. But by the beginning of last year, the savory cocktail trend had blown up — the briny Dirty Martini had opened up the floodgates for drinks that sounded like they’d stumbled onto the beverage menu from the dinner entrees. Tomatoes began making a stronger showing in interesting cocktails at influential spots, one of the best-known examples being the Caprese Martini (basil-infused Grey Goose vodka, olive oil, Lustau blanco, balsamic vinegar and, of course, tomato) at Jac’s on Bond in Manhattan.
Elevate Your Grooming Routine With Items You Didn’t Know You Needed
We always strive to help elevate your grooming routine, whether by suggesting the best products for your lifestyle — from moisturizers and deodorants to toothpaste and tools — or with our well-informed expert guides on skincare and hair styling. Today, men are more knowledgeable about these foundational basics. It’s now not “Should I moisturize?” but “What moisturizer should I use?” Guys understand the benefits of using specific products tailored to their skin and are generally loyal once we find what works.
The Breitling Endurance Pro 38 Is the Perfect Watch for the Serious Athlete
Much as we watch nerds tout the benefits of mechanical (and particularly automatic) movements — you never have to worry about a dead battery, etc. — the truth is that a well-built, inexpensive quartz movement will generally dance circles around a mechanical counterpart with respect to accuracy. This is doubly true of a technology such as Breitling’s thermo-compensated SuperQuartz, which the brand says is 10 times more accurate than your average, run-of-the-mill battery-powered movement. Combine this with a durable case, a useful timing complication, an excellent feature set and attractive colors, and you’ve got a recipe for a watch that the masses would be genuinely delighted to strap on.
A #VanLife Icon Goes Electric. Is It Ready to Be a Camper?
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has built quite a legacy in its 30 years of existence. After redefining the commercial van market in Europe upon its launch in 1995, it then made its way to the U.S. in the early 2000s and, alongside its fleet bonafides, became a top choice for road-trippers interested in a premium camper van conversion. Over the years, the van has been badged not only as a Mercedes-Benz, but also a Freightliner, Dodge and even a Volkswagen Crafter — and its many names have only increased its legend.
Is Everyone as Obsessed With Stephen Nedoroscik as I Am?
I’ll admit my introduction to the U.S. men’s national gymnastics team was via Taylor Swift. With the prospect of an exciting announcement from the artist on Saturday night during NBC and Peacock’s Primetime in Paris, my roommate and I tuned into the 8 p.m. rebroadcast of the earlier Olympic swimming and gymnastics events. Unfortunately for us Swifties, there was no new news — just a re-airing of an Olympic promo video that was already posted on Twitter. But what my roommate and I discovered was arguably better than any new Swift announcement.
The Best Art Museums in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is famously home to incredible weather and too many ways in which to enjoy it (like hiking, hitting a rooftop bar or visiting the bounty of beaches). Knowing this, we’re fully aware that what we’re about to suggest might sound a little crazy, but maybe it’s time to spend a few hours indoors. Now, what exactly could be enough to pull you inside when even our malls, best concert venues and movie screenings are all open-air? L.A.’s world-class collection of art museums, of course.
Can One Protein Make a Difference in Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease?
Last year, Dr. Lawrence Tabak, the principal deputy director of the National Institutes of Health, shared news of a surprising medical discovery. The NIH had funded research into “the world’s second person known to have an extreme resilience to a rare genetic form of early onset Alzheimer’s disease” — and what they found could have large implications for the future of Alzheimer’s treatment.
AI Website Scrapers Are Evolving at Alarming Rates
How much of the open internet is fair game for AI companies scraping the web to train their software? In recent weeks, that question has entered the spotlight with the news that Reddit has blocked most search engines — but, notably, not Google — from digging through its archive. It’s clear that there’s a science to configuring a website to keep it from being scraped, but according to a recent report, many sites are simply unable to stop these AI bots due to the rapid rate of their development.
Brad Pitt Is Taking This Whole Racecar Driver Thing Seriously
Actor, entrepreneur, race car driver — if anyone can do it, it’s probably coastal grandma Brad Pitt. Don’t know what I’m talking about? If you live under a rock, the Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood star is currently in the process of filming a Formula 1 racing movie, dubbed F1 and set to land summer 2025. The Joe Kosinski-directed flick is shaping up to be a massive blockbuster, with a star-studded cast that includes Javier Bardem and Damson Edris and a hyped release poised to capitalize on America’s growing Formula 1 obsession.
Where to Get Legitimately Good Vegan Food in Dallas
The Dallas culinary scene is known for many things: Tex-Mex, barbecue, burgers and the all-powerful steakhouse immediately come to mind. But vegan food? It’s not this city’s bread and butter, so to speak, but its presence is growing: restaurants around town are increasingly making vegetables the star of the show and vegan dishes are becoming more common, whether you’re seeking out Indian, Mexican or a fine-dining tasting menu. So for those who adhere to a vegan lifestyle and those who just want to lay off meat for a while, here are the best restaurants with delicious vegan offerings in and around Dallas.
InsideHook
25K+
Posts
150M+
Views
InsideHook brings you advice and recommendations on menswear, dining, fitness, travel and more. Let us help you live your best life.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.